Development of 3D Virtual Museum for Ban Chiang Masterpiece of Potteries

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1) Collect data and create the 3D images; 2) Develop a data storage system in the museum; and 3) design and develop a 3D virtual museum for Ban Chiang masterpiece of potteries. The research and development methods, comprised of 3 phases were used in this study. Phase 1, the documentation research for collecting the data of each piece of the potteries, and 3D images construction. Phase 2, the analysis and synthesis of existing metadata, combined with a field study to interview with the experts in order to develop a new metadata and collect the contents in the art and socio-cultural aspects to be included in the museum. Phase 3, the development of a 3D virtual museum for Ban Chiang Masterpiece of Potteries by using the concept of MSDD (Model of Interactive Multimedia System Design and Development). The research has resulted in: (1) the new metadata, comprised of 20 elements for recording the data of Ban Chiang Potteries, as well as the contents for storytelling about Ban Chiang potteries in the developed museum in the contexts of historical periods, arts and socio-cultures; and (2) the 3D virtual museum for masterpieces of ban Chiang potteries has the system architecture which comprised of 3 components: (2.1) 3D objects; (2.2) management processes which include exhibition management and content management; and (3) virtualization which is a user interface function that supported virtual 3D. The developed virtual 3D museum can be used for self-learning about Ban Chiang potteries and used as a system prototype for further development of a 3D virtual museum of other types of objects.